as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
thinks he's a big cheese just because he's got a business card
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Recent Examples of big cheese
But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.
—
Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.
—Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Simply Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs These light-colored curls have big cheese flavor, a satisfying crunch and a tart kick that is dangerously delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024
So for decades only accredited scholars, the occasional journalist and big cheeses got to see inside.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Following a voting process, this international cut of designers aged under 40 will be whittled down to a final few before the winners are selected by a panel of the conglomerate’s key designers and c-suite big cheeses some time in the summer.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023
All is fair in love and big cheese.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 2 Feb. 2023
Bob Iger is back as the House of Mouse’s big cheese.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2022
Una Pizza Napoletana is truly the big cheese: Anthony Mangieri’s Lower East Side pizza joint was just named the best pizzeria in the United States by the 50 Top Pizza organization.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2022
Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.
—Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Simply Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs These light-colored curls have big cheese flavor, a satisfying crunch and a tart kick that is dangerously delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024
So for decades only accredited scholars, the occasional journalist and big cheeses got to see inside.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Following a voting process, this international cut of designers aged under 40 will be whittled down to a final few before the winners are selected by a panel of the conglomerate’s key designers and c-suite big cheeses some time in the summer.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023
All is fair in love and big cheese.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 2 Feb. 2023
Bob Iger is back as the House of Mouse’s big cheese.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2022
Una Pizza Napoletana is truly the big cheese: Anthony Mangieri’s Lower East Side pizza joint was just named the best pizzeria in the United States by the 50 Top Pizza organization.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big cheese
Noun
-
As noted, newspapers and magazines have been conceived as a package—a mix of the light and the heavy.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
Others are the heaviest of the heavy: a college student rendered brain-dead by a fentanyl overdose, a little girl who fatally drowns while saving her sister who fell into their swimming pool.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
With all three now (seemingly) gone, the C’s are left with a collection of bigs that might be the least impressive in the NBA: Neemias Queta, newcomer Luka Garza, Xavier Tillman and second-round draft pick Amari Williams.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 July 2025
-
The goal is to get Ethan’s bat to the bigs, ready to create middle-of-the-order impact.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The cliffhanger ending clearly indicates a third movie in the planning, so maybe the filmmakers are saving their big guns for a final chapter.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 July 2025
-
Those big guns get thrown together on a top line when the Oilers need a spark, but have generally been split across the top-six over the last two rounds.—
The Athletic NHL Staff,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
That big boy came straight up out of the water until his tail was a foot above its surface, then smacked back.—
Arthur Grahame,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2025
-
This whole situation in the industry is like a big boy's club...—
Mekishana Pierre Published,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Two of the children, ages 9 and 11, were transported down the mountain in a big wheel basket.—
Hannah Dreyfus,
AZCentral.com,
2 July 2025
-
There was a man riding a toddler’s big wheel with a 40-ounce malt liquor bottle in one hand, and a woman wearing just a torn T-shirt was cursing up a storm.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Instead, what ensued was an eerie redux of another Wimbledon lion’s last stand.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
So far, 13 lions have been captured and five individuals arrested in connection with violating wildlife regulations.—
Alysha Bibi,
CNN Money,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
This David-and-Goliath battle pitted them against heavy hitters: the Dade County Port Authority, the Federal Aviation Administration, the state of Florida, the air transport industry and eager chambers of commerce.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
13 July 2025
-
But where Altman is a leading character in the story, another tech heavy hitter makes an impression, too, albeit in what appears to be more of a cameo.—
Rance Collins,
IndieWire,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Big cheese.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20cheese. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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